How to Start Leetcode (as a beginner)
Summary
TLDRIn this video, the speaker shares insights from solving over 1500 coding problems and clearing interviews at tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft. They guide viewers on how to start with LeetCode, choose a programming language, and the importance of understanding data structures and algorithms. They recommend starting with easy problems, focusing on medium difficulty for interviews, and learning from each problem rather than just the quantity. Tips on approaching new problems, using resources like YouTube and books, and practicing in a timed environment are also provided.
Takeaways
- đ You can get a software development job without coding on LeetCode, but it's beneficial for interviews at big tech companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft.
- đ There's no one 'right' programming language for coding interviews; popular languages like C++, Java, Python, or JavaScript are all acceptable.
- đ¶ For beginners in coding, Python is recommended due to its simplicity and ease of learning.
- đ Understanding basic programming concepts like loops, conditionals, functions, and basic input/output operations is crucial, regardless of the language you choose.
- đ To learn data structures and algorithms, resources like William Fiset's YouTube channel and books like 'Data Structures and Algorithms Made Easy' are helpful.
- đŻ Start with problems by topic on LeetCode to deepen your understanding and learn when to use specific data structures or algorithms.
- đ Focus on medium-level problems, as these are typically what you'll encounter in interviews, rather than getting stuck on hard problems early on.
- đ€ When starting, aim to solve 300 to 400 problems to build a strong foundation, focusing on understanding rather than just the quantity.
- đ Spend at least 30 to 60 minutes on a problem before looking at solutions; understand and implement the solution to reinforce learning.
- đ Learn to recognize patterns in problems on LeetCode, as many follow similar approaches, which can speed up your problem-solving.
- đĄ Memorizing solutions is not effective; understanding the logic and being able to explain your thought process is key for interviews.
Q & A
Why is practicing on LeetCode recommended for job interviews at big tech companies?
-Practicing on LeetCode is recommended because it's an effective platform to prepare for technical interviews at big tech companies like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, where coding challenges are a common part of the hiring process.
Can you get a software development job without doing LeetCode?
-Yes, it's possible to get a software development job without doing LeetCode, especially at startups that may not focus on such coding challenges. However, for roles at big tech companies, LeetCode practice is beneficial.
What programming language should one use for LeetCode and interviews?
-There is no single 'right' language; any popular language like C++, Java, Python, or JavaScript is suitable. For beginners, Python is recommended due to its simplicity and ease of learning. It's best to stick with a language you're comfortable with and understand its basic syntax and concepts.
Does the choice of programming language matter in big tech interviews?
-No, as long as it's a well-known language, the choice doesn't matter much because a programming language is just a tool, and problems can be solved using multiple languages.
What should a beginner know before starting to solve LeetCode problems?
-A beginner should have a basic understanding of computer science fundamentals, including time and space complexity, and be familiar with fundamental data structures and algorithms. Concepts like loops, conditionals, functions, and basic input/output operations are essential.
How can one learn data structures and algorithms effectively?
-One can learn through various online resources, such as YouTube channels like William Fiset, which provides visual explanations, or books like 'Data Structures and Algorithms Made Easy' by Nariman Gulam and 'Cracking the Coding Interview' by Gayle Laakmann McDowell.
How should a beginner approach solving LeetCode problems?
-Beginners should start by solving problems by topic to gain a deeper understanding. Start with easy problems and gradually move to more challenging ones. Focus on medium-level problems as they are most commonly encountered in interviews.
How many problems should one aim to solve on LeetCode?
-The number of problems varies based on the individual's level. For beginners, solving 300 to 400 problems is generally sufficient. The focus should be on understanding rather than just increasing the count.
How does one effectively approach a new LeetCode problem?
-Take time to understand the problem statement, expected input/output, and start with a brute force solution. Then, work on optimizing it by reducing time and space complexity. Plan your approach before coding and develop the habit of analyzing the complexity of your solutions.
When should one look at the solution if stuck on a LeetCode problem?
-If you're stuck, give at least 30 to 60 minutes of focused effort. If still stuck, look at hints or solutions. It's important to understand and try to implement the solution yourself, not just move on.
How can one practice solving problems like they are in an interview?
-Practicing in a timed environment is crucial. Using tools like the LeetCode timer or participating in LeetCode contests can simulate the interview experience. It's about gaining experience solving problems within a time limit.
Is a LeetCode premium subscription necessary for beginners?
-Not necessarily. While premium offers access to exclusive problems and visual solutions, these can often be found for free online. A premium subscription may be more beneficial for those looking for additional resources or a more structured learning path.
Outlines
đ» Getting Started with LeetCode
The speaker, having solved over 1500 LeetCode problems and cleared interviews at tech giants like Amazon, Google, and Microsoft, shares insights to ease the viewers' coding journey. They outline a strategy for starting from scratch with LeetCode, addressing common questions about its necessity for software development jobs, especially for big tech companies. The speaker clarifies that while startups might not require LeetCode proficiency, it's essential for interviews at larger corporations. They also discuss the choice of programming language, recommending Python for beginners due to its simplicity and readability, and emphasize the importance of understanding basic syntax and concepts across popular languages like C++, Java, and JavaScript.
đ Mastering Data Structures and Problem-Solving Strategies
The speaker advises new coders to grasp computer science fundamentals such as time and space complexity, and basic data structures and algorithms before tackling LeetCode problems. They highlight the significance of understanding big O notation for algorithm efficiency and recommend resources like William Fiset's YouTube channel and books like 'Data Structures and Algorithms Made Easy' by Nariman Kumar and 'Cracking the Coding Interview' by Gayle Laakman McDowell. For beginners, the speaker suggests starting with easy problems by topic to deepen understanding and learn when to apply specific data structures or algorithms. They also discuss the importance of challenging oneself with progressively harder problems and the value of learning from each problem solved, rather than focusing on the quantity of problems attempted.
Mindmap
Keywords
đĄLead Code
đĄData Structures
đĄAlgorithms
đĄBig O Notation
đĄProgramming Language
đĄInterview Preparation
đĄProblem Solving
đĄTime and Space Complexity
đĄPractice
đĄPatterns
đĄMemorization
Highlights
The speaker has solved over 1500 LeetCode problems and cleared interviews at Amazon, Google, and Microsoft.
LeetCode is recommended for preparing for interviews at big tech companies like Amazon, Google, or Microsoft.
One can get a software development job without LeetCode, especially at startups.
There is no 'right' programming language for LeetCode; any popular one like C++, Java, Python, or JavaScript will do.
Python is recommended for beginners due to its simplicity and ease of use.
Understanding basic syntax and concepts like loops, conditionals, functions, and I/O operations is essential.
Learning common data structures and libraries, such as STL in C++ or collections in Java, is beneficial.
The choice of programming language does not matter in big tech interviews as long as it's well-known.
Before solving LeetCode problems, one should understand computer science fundamentals like time and space complexity.
Familiarity with basic data structures and algorithms is necessary before starting LeetCode.
William Fiset's YouTube channel and 'Data Structures and Algorithms Made Easy' by Nariman Kumar are recommended learning resources.
Beginners should start solving LeetCode problems by topic to gain a deeper understanding.
Focusing on medium-level problems is recommended as they are commonly encountered in interviews.
For experienced coders, curated lists like 'LeetCode 75' or 'Top Interview 150' are suggested.
It's better to thoroughly understand and solve fewer problems than to solve many without much understanding.
When approaching a new problem, start with a brute force solution and then optimize.
It's important to analyze the time and space complexity of every problem submitted.
If stuck on a problem, give it at least 30 to 60 minutes before looking at hints or solutions.
Learning patterns is more efficient than focusing on individual questions on LeetCode.
Memorizing solutions is not recommended; understanding the concepts is crucial for interviews.
Practicing in a timed environment, like LeetCode contests, is essential to simulate interview conditions.
LeetCode premium is not necessary for beginners as most of its benefits can be found for free online.
The speaker shares their coding journey and offers to make videos on requested topics.
Transcripts
having solved more than 1500 lead code
problems and having cleared interviews
at companies like Amazon Google and
Microsoft there are things I have
learned that I want to share with you in
this video to make your journey easier
and less painful today I will explain
how I would use lead code if I were
starting from scratch I will answer most
common questions people have while
starting their lead code journey and say
resources you can use to become more
productive while practicing question why
do I even need to do lead code can't I
get a software development job without
lead code well the answer is yes you can
and get a software development job
without lead code there are many
startups that don't ask these type of
questions but if your goal is to work at
Big tech companies like Amazon Google or
Microsoft you would need to practice on
lead code since it's the best platform
to prepare for their interviews question
which programming language I should use
for lead code and interviews many people
get confused when deciding which
programming language to use well there
is no right programming language as long
as it's a popular one like C++ Java
python or JavaScript if you're new to
coding and don't know any programming
language I would recommend going with
python since it's easy to get started
with and has a simple syntax if you
already know a programming language well
stick with it you don't need to be an
expert but you should understand basic
syntax and Concepts like Loops
conditional functions and basic input
and output operations most programming
languages come with inbu support for
common data structure and libraries for
example the STL in C++ and the collect
library in Java so you spend some time
learning these it will make your journey
a lot easier question does choice of
programming language matter in big Tech
interviews the answer is no as long as
it's a well-known programming language
the reason it doesn't matter is because
a programming language is just a tool
and you can solve the same problem using
multiple programm languages I started
using C++ in the beginning then switched
to Python and finally to Java since most
of my industry experience was in Java
question I am new to data structures and
algorithms how do I learn this before
solving your first lead quote problem
you should have some idea about computer
science fundamentals such as time and
space complexity as well as basic data
structures and algorithms you don't need
to go very deep since most of the
learning will happen while solving
coding challenges but make sure you are
familiar with how to calculate time and
space complexity of an algorithm using
big or notation learning big on notation
will help you improve your algorithms
and better understand why your algorithm
may be running slowly once you have a
grasp of big on notation familiarize
yourself with fundamental data
structures like arrays strings binary
trees link list St Stacks cues and
hashmap and learn basic algorithms such
as sting searching and recursion you
don't need to know advanced concepts but
it's important to know how to implement
basic concepts in your preferred
programming language to learn these
topics you can find many resources
online one YouTube channel that I found
particularly helpful for learning data
structures is William faet they have a
data structure playlist where important
data structures are explained visually
if you like reading books then I
recommend reading data structures and
algorithms Made Easy by narima kumachi
and cracking the coding interview by gay
lakman McDow question there are
thousands of problems on lead code which
ones to solve if you a beginner start by
solving problems by topic this approach
will help you gain a deeper
understanding of each topic and learn F
data structure or algorithm to use for a
specific problem for each Topic start
with easy problems once you can
comfortably solve easy ones slowly start
challenging yourself with problems which
are slightly outside your comfort zone
you must constantly challenge yourself
to get better don't worry about hard
problems in the beginning in most
interviews you will encounter medium
level problems so Focus most of your
time on those the types of problems ask
in interviews differs from company to
company and it depends on the role you
are interviewing for in general backend
roles tend to ask harder questions
compared to front roles and Fang
companies ask more difficult questions
compared to startups for senior roles
experience and system design matter more
than lead code questions if you already
have some experience with lead code or
similar platforms you can choose curated
list of problems like need Cod 75 or top
100 lik or top interview 150 questions
on lead code don't spend too much time
on highly disliked questions they will
drain your energy and demotivate you
sometimes you may come across a problem
that is tagged as easy but it still
proves to be difficult to solve don't
get discouraged this is all part of the
learning process and sometimes lead code
doesn't do a good job of classifying the
difficulty level of the problem avoid
jumping between problems too quickly
give each problem sufficient time and
effort after every problem you solve ask
yourself what is one thing knowing which
made everything else easier question how
many problems should I solve this is
subjective and depends on the level at
which you are at if you are new you
would need to solve more problems in
general 300 to 400 problems should be
good enough a mistake I made in the
beginning was rushing to increase my
problem count without spending enough
time on each problem instead of focusing
on the quantity of problems you solve
focus on what you learn from each
problem it is much better to thoroughly
understand and solve 20 problems than to
solve 100 problems without much
understanding also try to make it fun
there's a fun in learning to solve
coding challenges it's not just about
getting a job I was able to solve such a
high number of problems because I
enjoyed challenging myself and felt
excited whenever my solution was
accepted question how do I approach a
new problem take some time to understand
the problem statement and the expected
in input and output patterns write it
down on paper if it helps start with
brute for solution and then work on
optimizing it think about how you can
improve the algorithm or reduce the time
and space complexity plan your approach
before coding coding is easy Once you
know what you are going to write so
before writing a single line of code
make sure you understand what exactly
you are going to write that's one reason
why programming language doesn't matter
much because it doesn't take too long to
implement a solution once you have a
good idea on what to write develop the
habit of analyzing the time and space
complexity of every problem you submit
interviewers focus a lot on finding
Optimal Solutions and may ask about the
complexity of your code it is a good
practice to test your code with a small
inputs including edge cases question if
I'm stuck with a problem when should I
look at the solution give at least 30 to
60 Minutes of focused effort to a
problem if you still stuck look at hints
and solutions don't spit too long on one
problem read the official solution and
try to understand the top Ed Solutions
you can check out this extension called
lead code video Solutions which allows
you to watch solution videos directly on
the problem page don't just move on
after being the solution try to
implement it yourself also since you
were to solve this problem on your first
attempt it's a good idea to market for
revision and revisit this problem after
a few weeks question how do I solve more
problems in less time the answer is to
learn patterns instead of focusing on
individual questions concentrate on
identifying patterns on lead code you
will come across multiple problems that
follow a similar pattern once you know
how to to solve one of them you can
apply the same approach to solve others
for example after learning this serving
pattern I was able to successfully solve
more than 20 sting questions using the
same approach I have created this GitHub
repository to list common lead quote
patterns from different articles you can
find the link in the description
question should I memorize solution to
difficult problems when I was a beginner
I used to memorize the solution to the
difficult problems and move on I later
realized that it was a big mistake
memorizing Solutions does not improve
your problem solving skills and it is
not helpful during interviews because
the interviewer might ask a variant of
the problem or a follow-up question
inform is a retain Pro understanding is
more likely to stay with you long term
during interviews it is important to
explain your thought process if you have
only memorized the solution you may
struggle to convince the interviewer why
your solution will work question how do
I practice like I am in an interview
solving a problem during an interview is
very different from solving it at home
sitting at your sofa that's why you need
to practice in a timed environment
there is a lead code extension called
lead code timer that you can use to time
yourself while practicing I highly
recommend participating in lead code
contest as they provide the best way to
practice in a timed environment don't
worry if you struggle to solve even one
problem in the beginning the whole point
is to gain some experience solving
problems within a time limit when I
started giving contest I was able to
solve only one to two problems but with
more practice I was able to solve three
problems and sometimes even all of them
question do I need lead code premium if
you are just starting out you don't need
to purchase lead code premium there are
three main benefits you get as a premium
Member First is you can unlock premium
only problems second you can access the
company specific problems and the third
you can access Visual solution to some
of the problems but all of these you can
find easily online for free if you need
visual explanation of any problem simply
type lead code on YouTube followed by
the problem number no matter what
problem it is you will find plenty of
high quality videos explaining its
solution if you want to learn more about
my coding journey and how I went from
zero to cracking interviews at multiple
big tech companies you can check out
this video if you have any questions or
want me to make a video on another topic
let me know in the comments I wish you
all the best thanks for watching and I
will see you in the next video
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